> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Analysis: Breaking Down Cougars’ Returning 2025 Skill Players - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/breaking-down-washington-state-cougars-returning-2025-skill-players/ - Published: 2025-07-28T19:47:18.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:37:02.000Z - Author: Jacob Stevenson - Tags: Analysis, Zevi Eckhaus, Washington State Football, Josh Meredith, Cougars \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="940"\] ![ Washington State receiver Josh Meredith participates in a practice during spring ball in Pullman. Credit: Josh Meredith/Instagram ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/488010073_18356822851176688_630670814401012345_n-format-original.jpg) Washington State receiver Josh Meredith participates in a practice during spring ball in Pullman. Credit: Josh Meredith/Instagram \[/caption\] With Jake Dickert and his staff departed for Wake Forest and coach Jimmy Rogers taking over in the Palouse, there was a mass exodus of players out of Pullman for the Washington State Cougars heading towards the 2025 season. Here’s some of the skill position names to keep an eye on who will be returning in the Crimson and Gray for 2025: ### Zevi Eckhaus, QB The projected starter under center, Eckhaus is a former 2023 OVC-Big South Player of the Year and a Walter Payton Award finalist who threw for 2,907 yards to go along with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Eckhaus showed promise in his first start with the Cougars in the Holiday Bowl versus Syracuse, amassing four total touchdowns and 363 yards through the air. In that bowl loss, he showed more mobility than expected. There is, however, an open quarterback competition. Still, Eckhaus was the number one quarterback throughout spring ball and because of his arm and experience, he is the favorite to be the starter in the first game of the season when the Cougs host Idaho on August 30. > That's 3⃣TD for Zevi Eckhaus! Cougs cut it to 28-35!! 👀 > > 📺 [@CFBONFOX](https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) > 📍 [@holidaybowl](https://twitter.com/holidaybowl?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) [#GoCougs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)[pic.twitter.com/TppOp6YKDV](https://t.co/TppOp6YKDV?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) [December 28, 2024](https://twitter.com/pac12/status/1872851834744013103?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Josh Meredith, WR Meredith, who originally entered the transfer portal before coming back to finish his career with the Cougars, is entering his senior season and fifth total year in the program. Last year, he caught 39 passes for 472 yards, which ranked third on the team in both categories. With the new offense, Washington State is expected to run the ball more. But Meredith figures to be one of the Cougs top wide receivers once again. > Mater Dei/Valhalla Alumni Josh Meredith with the Touchdown for Wazzu . [pic.twitter.com/38mVucHSQt](https://t.co/38mVucHSQt?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— San Diego Football (@Daygofootball) [September 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/Daygofootball/status/1837385432658858403?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Tony Freeman, WR Entering his second season in Pullman after playing his freshman season at College of San Mateo, Freeman caught eight passes for 125 yards and also returned 12 punts. Freeman figures to be a reserve wideout this upcoming year and you can also look for him to be a impact player on special teams for the Cougars. ### Leyton Smithson, WR Originally coming to Washington State as a receiver, Smithson had a solid freshman year catching 30 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. After his sophomore season where he developed into more a kick returner, he changed his position into being a safety for his junior year where he was the primary kick returner. When coach Rogers and his staff took over this spring, he transitioned back to receiver. This season, Smithson is expected to be a kick returner again and also be a depth option at wideout. ### Branden Ganashamoorthy, WR Ganashamoorthy originally came to Washington State as a walk on and redshirted his freshman year. As a sophomore in 2024, he pushed the two deeps and caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. At 6-3, Ganashamoorthy has some size and length and has improved a ton from when he first stepped on campus until the end of 2024\. Ganashamoorthy is projected to be a back up receiver, but with the size and development, he will be an interesting name to track this summer. ### Leo Pulalasi, RB Going into his third season with the program, Pulalasi was one of the members of the running back rotation last year, rushing 65 times and producing 302 yards. He showed some solid burst and the ability to run tough in between the tackles. Even with the additions of South Dakota State transfers Angel Johnson and Kirby Vorhees, Pulalasi is expected to be a part of the running back rotation again and will be a returner to keep an eye on in the fall. ### Trey Leckner, TE Leckner, a third-year tight end, redshirted his first year in Pullman and in his second season with the program, he caught five passes for 87 yards. Leckner’s more of a receiving right end and with the scheme change on offense to a more ground-oriented attack, it will be interesting to see how he fits. But last year in limited action, he showed promise in the receiving game, and could be a top target in the passing game.